Bikes Don't Float

Hip-Deep Water
Originally uploaded by jimgskoop

This water is much deeper than it might first appear. Especially when you are trying to ride through it. And then you miss the curb cut, and end up precariously close to snagging your front wheel on the sewer grate. Which forces you to panic stop. And then you can't get your damn foot unclipped from the pedal. And you fall over, directly into the water, landing on your right hip. The water entirely covered my right hip and leg, right arm, and most of the bike's drive train. So yeah, it is deep! Fortunately most of me dried out within the next few hours, save for my right shoe, which remained squishy throughout the ride.

For all the crap I carry along on rides, I was very thankful to have a 2nd pair of gloves. But I really wanted a dry pair of socks!

More Rack-Building Tools

One of these is now making its way to me.

Thanks to Alex and Alistair for fielding my too-many questions!

Alistair's Rack build

Rack build
Originally uploaded by Duncan Cycles

Just posting this here as a sort of bookmark... Alistair built a porteur rack for his tandem and did a great job photo-documenting the process, with lots of helpful tips!

Here's the entire set.

Welcome Gifford!

I just can't stop staring at Alex's new self-built custom bike...



Read more about it on Alex's blog...

Rackufacture -- It's On!

Finally bit the bullet, and just got off the phone with Henry James:

GASFLUX PASTE FLUX Type “B” PASTE FLUX-Brass*/#......$11.00 @ 2lbs = $22.00

GASFLUX C-04 BRASS ROD 1/16” Diameter*First pound......$17.00 @ 1lbs = $17.00

CANTI BRAKE BOSSES -REAR, Pair.....$ 4.75

EYELETS, Bag of 10.................$ 6.00

WATER BOTTLE BOSS*, Bag of 10......$ 3.00

Next up, ordering a tubing bender, and then some tubing!

SF TechShop to Open Summer 2010

Just got an email update from TechShop about their upcoming San Francisco location...

TechShop San Francisco To Open This Summer (But Only With Your Help)

All of us at TechShop are very excited to announce that we have signed a non-binding Letter of Intent with the Hearst Corporation to lease the 15,500 square-foot building at 924 Howard Street (at the intersection of Howard and 5th) in downtown San Francisco so we can build and open the first TechShop location in San Francisco! The building has its own parking lot, and it is just 1 block from the Moscone Center, 3 blocks from the Powell Street BART station, and 6 blocks from Union Square. The location is very convenient to people in San Francisco, as well as those living in the East Bay thanks to the quick BART access.

But We Need Your Help! This is not a done deal yet. In order for us to sign the binding 5-year lease and begin construction, we first need to receive pledges from you and all the other people in San Francisco that you will pitch in and help in one or more of these five ways:
Pledge to Become a Lender ($25,000 or More)
Pledge to Buy a Lifetime Membership ($5,000)
Pledge to Become a Monthly Member ($99/mo Auto-Pay)
Pledge to Make a Donation ($25 or More)
Pledge to Volunteer Your Time for Demolition and Build-Out

Make Your Pledge Right Now We are only taking pledges at this time...we will start collecting money when we are sure there is enough support to make this project successful. To pledge, please send email right now to "sfpledges@techshop.ws" and indicate how you would like to pledge to help open TechShop San Francisco. Please include your name, ph! one number, and email address.

Tell Your Friends About TechShop San Francisco, and Ask Them To Help Too Please tell all your friends about TechShop San Francisco and urge them to help pitch in with their pledge too. You can forward this email to them, or email them the link to the information page at www.techshop.ws/tssf.html.

What Happens with TS SF if We Don't Reach Our Pledge Goals? All indications show that there is very strong demand for TechShop in San Francisco, so I am sure we will receive enough pledges in each category to proceed. However, if we don't receive enough pledges in each category, we will be forced to withdrawl the Letter of Intent and postpone the opening of TechShop San Francisco, and try again at some later date. If you want to see TechShop San Francisco open this summer, I urge you to please make your pledge today and don't wait!

Decaleur Concept Sketch

Decaleur Concept Sketch
Originally uploaded by jimgskoop

(drawing not to scale)

I might try to build this threadless-stem bag mount as my first bending/brazing project.

Ultra Sonic Chain Cleaning

Done
Originally uploaded by jimgskoop

Per a recent iBOB thread, here's me using the ultrasonic cleaner on a bicycle chain. Full set of photos are here.

First Ride of 2010!

The Group Photo.
Originally uploaded by jimgskoop

Point Reyes Station Ride. A most-excellent first ride of the new year! Met up with a few friends from KOG/iBOB/Flickr: Esteban, Aaron, Bradley, Cyclofiend, and Adam for a ramble out to Point Reyes Station. Bumped into One Happy Cog (aka Franc) at Bovine. The big distance kinda hurt, but I did and felt better than expected overall, given my lack of riding and recent butt problems. Rattle from the bike's front rack appears to be resolved, per the recent fix (loose rivet). 87 miles, 9am to 6:30pm